European Union officials meet Thursday in Belgium with prominent Jewish leaders at a one-day conference on fighting anti-Semitism in Europe.
Jewish leaders say they plan to ask EU officials to take a lead role in combating anti-Semitism. They also plan to urge European governments to support a draft U.N. resolution condemning anti-Semitism.
The conference, organized by the European Commission, had originally been planned for earlier this year. But it was called off after the heads of the World Jewish Congress and European Jewish Congress accused the Commission of indifference to anti-Semitism.
The Jewish leaders also criticized the Commission for censoring an EU report that said young Muslims have played a large role in a reported recent rise in anti-Jewish attacks in Europe.
However, European Commission president Romano Prodi revived plans for the conference after meeting with World Jewish Congress chairman Israel Singer, who said his organization fully trusts the Commission chief.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
